Book Review

50 Studies Every Plastic Surgeon Should Know, edited by C. Scott Hultman, is a concise book that aims to identify the most influential contributors of our discipline. It is divided into 10 sections, each containing 5 articles. For example, " Foundations, " starts off with a seminal article published in 1929 by Blair and Brown detailing the use and uses of large split skin grafts of intermediate thickness. 1 The last section is entitled " Innovations " and, for example, includes a 2009 article by Siemionow et al on near-total Human Face transplantation in the United States. study is reviewed by authorities in the relevant specialty presented and includes comments from the study authors themselves. Relevant studies for further reading are recommended within each section. STRENGTHS Each of the 50 seminal articles is examined in turn with the same format. The question that the study is aiming to address is highlighted concisely, and the article is analyzed using the same subsections (sample size, design overview, intervention, follow-up, criticisms, limitations, etc.) for each article examined. This is all dealt with succinctly and is generally done in 3 to 4 pages of text (book reviewed was A5 size) and gives a good understanding of the article without needing to access the full article. Where relevant, key tables of results or figures are included (for example, in the review of Tessier's 1971 article 3 on the definitive plastic surgical treatment of the severe facial deformities of cranio-facial dysostosis, useful diagrams demonstrating where to place osteotomies are included to aid understanding). Each article is summarized in a concise paragraph, followed by a referenced expert commentary that provides the reader with a systematic analysis in a style that provides consistency throughout the book. In terms of overall content, this book allows the reader to access a collection of articles from authors most associated with certain techniques. For example, Millard's 1964 article on cleft lip is included, 4 as are Kleinart et al's 1967 article on zone 2 flexor-tendon repairs 5 and Phalen's 1966 article on his experience with carpal tunnel syndrome. 6 This is just a short representation of what articles are included, and most articles (or authors) would be recognizable to those working within plastic surgery, but they may not be articles that the reader has had the chance to familiarize themselves with before. It would, therefore, be an extremely useful tool for those …

pelvis ; these being dealt with in such brevity that they might with advantage have been omitted. The chapter on the diagnosis of pregnancy lays emphasis on Hegar's sign. In this country students are taught never to elicit it because of the danger of producing abortion. Many of the techniques advocated have been condemned by British obstetricians : e.g. induction of labour by bougies, plugging the uterus for post-partum haemorrhage, and traction on the child's body in breech delivery. The subject-matter dealt with in the chapter on X-rays is excellent, but could be improved by showing plates of X-ray pelvimetry. The book is well set out, and arranged for rapid consultation by a student in an emergency, but its teaching is in many aspects opposed to that of British schools. Pp. xii, 271. Illustrated. London: H. K. Lewis & Co. Ltd. 1949. Price 35s.?Though perhaps primarily addressed to students who will be sitting for the Diploma of the British Orthoptic Board, this book will, in fact, appeal to all interested in the treatment of squint cases. The theory and practical management of orthoptic cases, the potentialities and limitations of training, are clearly set forth. Latent and paralytic strabismus is discussed at length. This section of the book contains many valuable illustrative casehistories from the authors' immense knowledge and practical experience in this branch of ophthalmological practice. The subject-matter has been brought completely up to date and incorporates all recent advances in orthoptics and the treatment of strabismus generally. The presentation is logical and extraordinarily lucid. The many illustrations, diagrams and charts permit of no misinterpretations. The book is complete with bibliography, glossary, and a full and accurate index, faultless in production, and worthy of. the highest praise.
Malignant Disease and Its Treatment by Radium. Vols. I and II. By Sir Stanford Cade, K.B.E., C.B., F.R.C.S., M.R.C.P. Second Edition. Pp. xi, 383 ; xi, 430. Illustrated. Bristol : John Wright & Sons Ltd. 1948-49. Price 52s. 6d. per volume.?The first two volumes of the four which comprise the second edition of this work have now been published. The first volume contains Parts I and II of the work ; the third and main part being formed by the remaining three volumes. In Part I are surveyed the properties of radium, its radiations, and the techniques for applying those radiations to the treatment of malignant diseases. Part II contains the description of the biological effects of irradiation. The* physical section covers its ground adequately and contains chapters by three of the foremost physicists. The biological section presents a present-day picture of the effects bf radiation, mainly from a clinician's point of view. Full reference is made to the classic researches of past workers, while modern experimental work is described in a chapter by Dr. F. G. Spear. The whole volume is a store of information, and contains an extensive bibliography. There are few aspects of the subject upon which specialists will fail to obtain guidance, while a general surgeon or physician should also find much of interest. The second volume covers approximately the field which is of interest to the ear, nose and throat surgeon.
Malignant disease of the thyroid and salivary gland have been included in its scope. It begins the main part of a work which will be an unrivalled exposition of the whole field of radium treatment. This is an essential volume for the radiotherapist. Nowhere else will he find so authoritatively detailed and practical an account of the pathology, symptoms and signs of malignant growths, and their treatment with radium. Every surgeon who has to deal with these cases in any number should have access to the book. The study of it must inevitably improve his appreciation of the respective uses of irradiation and surgery in the treatment of malignancy. The radiation therapist using this work may be regretful that, as the tivle indicates, the emphasis is on radium treatment, which the author tends to favour to the exclusion of X-ray therapy. But it may be remembered that in some of the foremost radiotherapy departments in the country small field X-ray therapy is used successfully where the author prescribes teleradium. ?This book has been written since the National Health Service Act came into force on July 5th, 1948. In ordinary times it is very difficult to obtain an up-to-date book on public health. It is more than ever necessary in view of the Health Act and, indeed, a new approach is essential in the circumstances. This book meets these requirements very well. The writer points out that it is limited in scope, for, as its title indicates, it is an introduction to public health.

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It is an amplification of the notes of lectures on hygiene and public health given to medical students." The approach through the historic background makes the subject more interesting. It can be strongly recommended, not only to medical students working for thenfinal examination, but also to student sanitary inspectors and health visitors and, indeed, to doctors in general practice who want to be brought up to date on this subject. 1948. Price 16s.?This book achieves admirably its purpose of presenting the clinical facts of neurology in a clear and concise form. It is the more commendable because the text is the author's own writing in exemplary English. The book is reliable and up to date. Although emphasis is rightly placed on the importance of the clinical method, appropriate space is given to the newer radiographic methods of investigation. The production is excellent and in this, the ninth, edition art-paper has been used throughout. Illustrations of high quality abound ; they are drawn from the author's superb collection. The book has long been deservedly popular with students ; and the practising neurologist will find useful information in these pages. and " one," or two different spellings of the same word in adjacent lines, suggest that more care might have been given to editing and proof reading. 5s. 6d.?This book, which is in the main an epitome of the author's Notes on Chronic Otohorrcea published twenty years ago, suffers from the condensation both in style of the text and in the illustrations, the latter falling far below the standard of the previous volume. It is primarily written for medical officers in charge of school aural clinics and their assistants, and describes the principles and application of this method of treatment.
Ionization is spectacular and mysterious, and appeals strongly to lay committees : it has been revived five or six times since it was abandoned in 1890. The end results are not superior to those of other modern methods.
The present extension of the work to the wider field of the nose and throat describes methods which are time-consuming and unlikely to displace better-known surgical procedure.